Value printing die protection device



June 1944. w. H. WHEELER, JR., ETAL 2,350,853

VALUE PIiINTING DIE PROTECTION DEVICE Filed Sept. 24, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l I I'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I Z, INVENTO s BY @MATTORNEY June 6, 1944. I w. H. WHEELER. JR, ETAL ,350,

VALUE PRINTING DIE PROTECTION DEVICE Filed Sept. 24, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 TTORNEY Patented June 6, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE Walter H. Wheeler, Jr., Linden A. Thatcher, and

' Francis J. Rouan, Stamford, Conn., assignors to -Pitney-.Bowes Postage Meter 00., Stamford,

Conn, a corporation of Delaware Application September 24, 1942, Serial No. 459,474

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a die protection device for use in preventing the taking of fraudulent non-metered impressions from the value printing die surface of a printing member in a metered mailing machine.

In the machine disclosed, the printing unit is preferably of the reciprocating type, and it is the principal object of the invention "to provide obstruction means whereby the surface of the value printing die will be continuously obstructed both before and duringa printing cycle of operation with the exception of the moment of printing.

It is another object to provide obstruction means which is projectablebeyondthe surface of a, printing die during a printing cycle of operation, which is adapted to retract when engaged by. a letter upon approaching a printing position, then advance to a projected position after printing, and finally be blocked to prevent the return thereof until the cycle of operation is completed. 7

It is a further object to maintain control over the projectable obstruction means to prevent the complete retraction thereof during a cycle of operation by any means other than the drive mechanism.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds,

tion member in an obstructing position to prevent an attempt to insert a second letter and move it against the printing surface of the printing die; and Fig. 7 shOWS the comparative positions of both obstruction means when the second obstruction means is being withdrawn from an obstructing position near the end of a cycle of operation.

A printing die block H) is fixed between side walls H and HM the printing framestructure and has a value printing die face [3. Directly beneath the die face l3 is a platen 14 which is adapted to be raised to a printing position with relation to the printing die l3 by means of mechanism disclosed in a pending application Serial No. 444,635, filed May 27, 1942. A letter support plate I5, suitably supported by the frame structure has an opening l5 therein through which' the platen I4 is adapted to pass during a printing cycle of operation when moving a letter L to a printing position.

the invention resides in the combination and ar-' rangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that various changes in the pre cise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from thespirit of the invention. c

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

wherein:

Fig. l is a plan view of a portion of a letter printing machine with such parts shown as directly, apply to printing and more particularly to the die protection means;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view with parts in section and parts broken away, and is taken substantially along the line 2-2 ofFlg. 1;

Figs. 3 through 7 are operational views, wherein: Fig. 3 shows the position of the obstruction members during the beginning of a cycle of operation and after the first obstruction means has been removed from an obstruction position; Fig. 4 shows the position of parts atthe .moment of printing; Fig. 5 shows the position of parts with the platen withdrawnc after a printing operation; Fig. 6 shows the blocking of the second obstruc- An ink roller l l is rotatably mounted in a support I8 and is normally positioned with the roller in engagement with the forward end of the printing die when the machine is at rest, as best indicated in Fig. 2. The ink roller support I8 is pivotally supported intermediate its ends upon a lever l9, which lever is pivotally mounted upon a shaft 2| carried by the side walls II and I2 of the frame structure.

A drive shaft 22, carried by suitable bearings 20-20a in the side walls H and I 2, is adapted to be rocked by means of a crank 23 when a v printing cycle of operation is performed. Fixed to said shaft 22 is a lever 24, which lever has a roller 25 mountedrat one end thereof. Through the engagement of said roller 25 with a slot 26 in the lever I9, said lever is is adapted to be rocked when any rocking movement of the lever 24 occurs.

When the crank 23 direction of the arrow Fig. 1 to efl'ect a printing stroke, the lever 24 is rocked in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed from Fig. 2, which in turn will effect the rocking of the lever IS in a clockwise direction and thereby move the ink roller support in a horizontal direction across the face of the printing die l3. The inner ends war-48a of the ink roller support are joined With the frame structureby means of link members 25-21, which membersare pivotally mount ed upon studs 28 and 29 projecting inwardly from thewalls l l and I2 respectively. The opposite a ends of said links 26 and 21 are joined with the ink roller support ends Illa-48a by means of a is moved forwardly in the rod 3!. The combined levers I9, 24 and links 26, 21 are arranged to produce a straight line horizontal motion for the ink roller I! when it is wiped across the printing die l3.

So long as the ink roller l1 and the support 18 are in the path of the printing die l3, the face of the printing die is properly obstructed to prevent the bringing of a, letter into. engagement with the face of the printing die to obtain a fraudulent impression. After the ink roller I1 is Withdrawn from the face of the die to the position shown in Fig. 3, the said die face would normally be exposed if it were not provided with a die protecting means which is adapted tocooperate with the ink roller support. I8 to form a second means of obstruction.

The die protecting means comprises a rocker' member 33 which is pivoted upon a stud 3t intermediate its ends. At the die obstructing. end of the rocker member 33, a hooked plunger portion 34 is provided, the end. of which is maintained within 'an'opening 35 inv the die block Ill and is urged downwardly through said opening by means Ora-spring 36;, Said spring; 36 is fixed tooneendgof' a pin 3.1, which pin passes through the: rocker member 33 and has'a head portion 38 projecting beyond the opposite side thereof.

A cam member 39 is fixed to the drive shaft. 3-2,. which member has a cam slot 4i therein, a projecting or pointed. cam portion 42', and a dwell cam. surface 43. Normally the head portion 38 of pin 31 engagesthe cam slot 4!, as shown in Fig. 2, andas the cam is rocked; the head of the pin. 38- will first remain stationary, then will bemoved by the pointed end- 42 to rock the rocker member '33- in a counter-clockwise direction and. thereby project the plunger portion 34 beyond the printing die surface, as best shown in Fig. 3. The; latter will occur immediately after the endof the ink roller support I8' passes beyondthe opening 35 in the die block ID. If, after the head: 38 passes the high point of the cam: end- 42 to a position equivalent to that shown in Fig. 5 for example, an attempt were made to move the plunger end, back within the opening 35, the said head 3'8 would strike the right edge of the pointed cam 42- to' thus prevent.- removal: of the plunger from-a: projecting position. When the head 38 is in a position opposite the dwell. 43, the platen. will have moved the letter into engagement with the printing die surface. plunger portion 34 is always under complete controlof? the drive.

Pressure is maintained against the letter and printing die through the platen, in the manner mechanism generallyind-icated at. 4.5. Said latch. mechanism comprises a substantially horizontally.

disposed member 46, which is freely pivoted upon. the'drive shaft 22-, and a vertically disposed member 41' whichv is pivotally'mountedupon. a stud 48. projecting from the side wall. I7... A latch is effectedjbetween the-two latch members. 465. and 41 by the engagement. of a notched sidewa dly disposed arm 49. with a slotted portion 5| of an inwardly bent wall 52 of the latch member 41... When the: device is in its rest position, the. latch. members are normally in the latched positi-o shown in Fig- 3-.

In this manner the beyond the surface of theprinting die.

When during a printing cycle of operation, the letter reaches the position of engagement with the printing die surface, the toe portion 44 of the rocker member 33 will have engaged the upper edge of the latch member 46, as indicated in Fig. 4, to rock the notched portion of said latch member 46 out of latched engagement with the wall 52 of the latch member 41. Said latch members 46 and 41 are urged about their pivots in a counter-clockwise direction by means of springs 53 and 54 respectively, the spring 53 being attached to arm 49 of the latch member 46, and spring 54 being attached to a projecting lug 50 forming apartof the latch member 41'. Upon 1 engagement therefore, between the toe portion 44. and the upper edge of the latch member 46, the latch will be released and the vertically disposed latch member 41 will be urged against the too, as best shown in Fig. 4.

On the return or restoring stroke of the crank handlee23, theplaten M will, be moved downwardly out of a printing position, andthrough the spring 36,,the arm 33Wil1be rotatedin a counterclockwise direction' to urge the plunger portion 34 7 Also, the toe portion 44 of the arm 33 willhave moved away fromthe latchmember 41 to. thus: permit said latch member 41 to be urged by spring 54 against the side of the drive shaft bearing. 20, as in Fig. 5; In said latter position the upper edge of the latch member 41 is positioned directly beneath the toe- 44 to provide a, block and thereby prevent complete return. movement of the plunger 34 until. the cycle of operation is completed, as best indicated in Fig. 6.

Restoration of the latch member to a latchi-ng position is effected when a projection 56 on thecam member 39 engages a. cam ridge 5'! on the latch member 41:, in a manner best shown in Fig. 5.

Having described the claimed is:

1'. In a value. printing device having a printing die and platen, means for effecting protection against the. taking of impressions fraudulently comprising, inking means normally obstruct ng the printing die surface, a reciprocating drive, means connecting the. inking, means with the drive to effectv removal. of the inking means durin a printing cycleof operation and return same after printing, a plunger normally withdrawn from. the, printingdie. surface in: a non-obstructing positionmeans controlled. by the drive to extend the plunger beyond the die surface before the. removal of the. inking means therefrom, said plunger being removable from an extended position during a printing cycle of operation and being extensible after printing, and means to prevent the return of the plunger to a non-obstructing position until the inking means returns to; an obstructing, position.-

'2- In a value printing device having a printing die and platen, means for effecting protection against the taking of impressions fraudulently comprising, a movable inking member normalli obstructing. the. printing die surface, a reciprocating, drive, means connecting. the inking member with the drive to effect movement of the inking member away from the printing die during. aprinting cycle. of operation and return ame to an. obstructing position after printing, a plunger normally withdrawn within the printing die. and projectable through the, printing die surface,.means. controlled by the drive to extend the plunger beyond the. die surface. before the inking invention, what is member has been entirely removed from said die surface, said plunger remaining partially extended until the moment of effective printing engagement between an article to be printed and the printing die, means to urge the plunger beyond the die surface as the printed article moves away from a printing position, and means to block the return of the plunger to its normally withdrawn position until the inking member is returned to an obstructing position.

3. In a value printing device having a printing die and platen, means for effecting protection against the taking of impressions fraudulently comprising, an inking roller and support therefor normally obstructing the printing die surface, a reciprocating drive, means connecting the inking roller support with the drive to effect movement of the inking roller across the printing die during a printing cycle of operation and return same to an obstructing position after printing, a plunger normally withdrawn within the printing die and projectable through the printing die surface, means controlled by the drive to extend the plunger beyond the die surface before the inking roller has been entirely removed from said die surface, said plunger remaining partially extended until the moment of effective printing engagement between an article to be printed and the printing die, means to urge the plunger beyond the die surface as the printed article moves away from a printing position, and means to block the return of the plunger to its normally withdrawn position until the inking roller is returned to an obstructing position.

4. In a value printing device having a printing die and platen, means for effecting protection against the taking of impressions fraudulently comprising, inking means normally obstructing the printing die surface, drive means connected with the inking means to effect removal thereof during a printing cycle of operation, a plunger projectable through the printing die surface, cam means controlled by the drive to project the plunger beyond the die surface before the complete removal of the inking means therefrom, said plunger being retractable from a projected position during a printing cycle of operation, means controlled by the cam to limit the retractable position of the plunger end with respect to the printing die surface during the printing stroke, said latter means being adapted to also effect projection of the plunger when the printing stroke has been completed, and means to block the complete return of the plunger during the return stroke of the drive means until the inking means returns to an obstructing position.

5. In a value printing device having a printin die and platen, means for effecting protection against the taking of impressions fraudulently comprising, an inking member normally obstructing the printing die surface, a drive connected with the inking member to effect movement thereof away from the printing die during a printing cycle of operation, a, plunger member projectable through the printing die surface, means connecting the drive with the plunger to extend the plunger beyond the die surface before the inking member has been removed from said die surface, means associated with the drive and plunger to prevent independent movement ofv the plunger toward the printing die surface, means to yieldably urge the plunger to a projecting position after printing, plunger blocking mechanism positioned in a non-blocking relation with the plunger member before printing is effected and being movable to a blocking position after printing is effected, whereby, upon projection of the plunger after printing, the said plunger will be prevented from being returned to a nonobstructing position by any means except the drive.

6. In a value printing device having a printing die and platen, means for effecting protection against the taking of impressions fraudulently comprising, an inking member normally obstructing the printing die surface, a drive connected with the inking member to effect movement thereof away from the printing die during a printing cycle of operation, a plunger member projectable through the printing die surface, cam means connecting the drive with the plunger to extend the plunger beyond the die surface before the inking member has been removed from said die surface, a projection on said cam associated with the plunger member to prevent independent movement of the plunger toward the printing die surface, a spring connected with the plunger to yieldably urge said plunger to a projecting position after printing, plunger blocking mechanism positioned in a non-blocking relation with the plunger member before printing is effected and being movable to a blocking position after printing is effected, whereby, upon projection of the plunger after printing, the said plunger will be prevented from being returned to a non-obstructing position by any means except the drive.

7. In a value printing device having a printing die and platen, means for effecting protection against the taking of impressions fraudulently comprising, an inking member normally obstructing the printing die surface, a drive connected with the inking member to effect movement thereof away from the printing die during a printing cycle of operation, a plunger member projectable through the printing die surface, means connecting the drive with the plunger to extend the plunger beyond the die surface before the inking member has been removed from said die surface, means associated with the drive and plunger to prevent independent movement of the plunger toward the printing die surface, means to yieldably urge the plunger to a projecting position after printing, normally latched blocking mechanism positioned in a latched non-blocking relation with the plunger member befor printing is effected, means controlled by the plunger member to trip the latched blocking mechanism, when printing is effected, and means to urge the blocking mechanism to a blocking position, whereby, upon extension of the plunger after printing, the said plunger will be prevented from being returned to a non-obstructing position by any means except the drive.

WALTER H. WHEELER, JR. LINDEN A. THATCHER. FRANCIS J. ROUAN. 

